Five-Year-Old Leukemia Patient Enthralls City As Batkid For One Day

LNVO - An army of well-wishers and volunteers helped a young leukemia patient inSan Franciscoon Friday realize his wish to become Batman for a day.

Five-year-old Miles, whose leukemia is currently in remission, lived out his dream to be the superhero for one day with the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

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It recruited volunteer actors, the business community, the San Francisco Giants and even the city's mayor and police departments to help create the fictional "Gotham City" throughout parts of San Francisco.

Little Miles, dressed as Batkid and with the help of a full-sized Batman, played by acrobat Eric Johnston, fought evil villains in a day-long series of elaborate capers that began Friday morning when the bat symbol appeared at the Hyatt hotel on Union Square.

The event took a life of its own on the internet and social media with throngs of people lining the streets to witness the various scenes and to encourage Miles along.

The events included the rescue of a damsel in distress, locking the Ridler behind a jail cell and driving around the city in two Batmobiles, black Lamborghinis with Batman decals that were escorted by police, who also blocked off roads.

"There's going to be mayhem and it's going to be wonderful mayhem and love," Make-A-Wish Executive Director Patricia Wilson said. ""I've been at Make-A-Wish for 15 years and never did I think something like this would be possible."

Organizers hope Friday's day-long celebration of Miles will give him new powers. "Some new skills, to face things that are changing too fast, that you're not sure how it's going to go and just charge into it doing backflips," Johnston said.